Vaccination role for Strath PKC councillor
Programme classed as successful despite red tape
A councillor who previously retired from his role as a consultant anaesthetist is helping deliver Covid- 19 vaccines.
Dr Crawford Reid has been keen to offer his services since the pandemic began but said he was initially foiled by red tape.
Earlier this year, the Conservative councillor – who is one of the representatives for the Strathallan ward – completed online training to enable him to vaccinate the Perth and Kinross public.
Since February 5, Dr Reid has been delivering vaccinations at St Serf ’s Medical Practice in Kinross – where his daughter, Dr Suzie Reid, practices as a GP.
But he said if it were not for the family connection, bureaucracy might have prevented him helping out.
Dr Reid explained: “Without my daughter being a partner in the practice,
it is unlikely that I would have able to contribute to this wonderful programme.
“Despite having completed online training specifically related to Covid-19 vaccination, and other online training modules, including prevention of radicalisation, I – and many other registered medical practitioners – struggled to be embraced by the system.
“The bureaucracy seemed to be overwhelmed. I hope that lessons will be learned for the future.”
Despite this, Dr Reid does believe the vaccination roll-out has largely been a success.
He said: “Without doubt, the vaccination programme rolled out in the UK has been – with a few exceptions – a tremendous success.”
Dr Reid said the majority of patients had seen the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweighing the risks.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recently investigated cases of rare blood clots in UK residents who had received the AstraZeneca vaccine.
By March 31, 20.2 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses had been administered across the UK.
Up to March 31, the UK regulator MHRA found 79 people – including 51 women – experienced clots after receiving a first dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. Nineteen of these people died.
Dr Reid said: “The provision of the vaccinations has been well-organised.
“The only problems have been associated with the supply of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which has been slightly unpredictable.
“Although the AstraZeneca vaccine has had some adverse publicity, it has been my experience that the patients are aware of the issues.
“However, having weighed up the risk/ benefit ratio, they are in the majority absolutely delighted to receive the vaccine and genuinely see it as a way to returning to a normal life.”